Konasean--it depends on how cold it is around your tank, and how many btu's you are drawing. The smaller the tank(i.e the less gas you have) the warmer it has to be to emit the high btu's of a tankless heater. Even a 5 gallon tank may emit enough btu's to work in cold temps but you'll only be able to use part of the tank before it freezes up. http://www.wardburner.com/tankfreeze.html

Hi Abel,--Could you tell me at how low a temperature you have been able to totally empty those 5 gallon tanks at your max of 75k btu's? I assume you mean just one tank at a time is being consumed, that you are not linking them together. Thinking about a similiar rugged setup. Thanks

25 gallons (i.e, 100 lb tank) is 2,300,000 btu's. A good ballpark is 100k/hour to heat water for a shower. If take 10 minute showers thats 16,600 btu per shower or 138 showers per tank. Many people have transport issues. Go without a hot shower for a few years and you might think that tank is real enough.

25 gallons is 2,300,000 btu's. A good ballpark is 100k/hour to heat water for a shower. If take 10 minute showers thats 16,600 btu per shower or 138 showers per tank. Many people have transport issues. Go without a shower for a few years and you might think that tank is real enough.

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True that.

You could only shop at Wal-Mart if you go without a shower for a few years.

Then you would be happy to exchange a 5 Gallon tank at WM for $20.00 or so.

I would take a cold shower than none at all.

Years ago people washed in the rivers and creeks and had the sun to warm them.

I have the 3.8 gallon Rinnai >>outdoor<< unit running from a 215 gallon LP tank using a high-pressure system. I have 10psi to the house through 3/4 inch underground plastic gas pipe, and then 1/2 inch black iron inside the cabin and through the wall to the unit. Pressure regulator is at the unit. Absolutely no problems with condensation on the pipe, or of getting enough BTUs to the unit even in the coldest weather. There's no reason you can't use a portable tank.

I have the 3.8 gallon Rinnai >>outdoor<< unit running from a 215 gallon LP tank using a high-pressure system. I have 10psi to the house through 3/4 inch underground plastic gas pipe, and then 1/2 inch black iron inside the cabin and through the wall to the unit. Pressure regulator is at the unit. Absolutely no problems with condensation on the pipe, or of getting enough BTUs to the unit even in the coldest weather. There's no reason you can't use a portable tank.

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Surely "215 gallon" is a typo. Of course such a large size wouldn't freeze up. Could you clarify please?